Self-opening umbrella

ABSTRACT

An automatic umbrella which includes a releasable self-opening means, such as a compression spring provided between a pair of runners sliding on the stick, wherein the spring is compressed when the runners are in a closed position and locked by a resiliently-pivoted locking pawl inside the stick protruding radially outwardly of the stick to engage a runner and a pushbutton having an enlarged head for releasing the locking pawl from the runner to allow the umbrella to open. A sliding ring is provided which includes a safety lock for the push-button with the large head whereby when the ring is in a predetermined position, the head cannot be depressed to release the runners. The ring can be moved axially to disengage the safety lock from the pushbutton head.

United States Patent [191 Saito et a1.

[ Sept. 23, 1975 SELF-OPENING UMBRELLA [75] Inventors: K320 Saito; N0but0shi Kida, both of Osaka, Japan [73] Assignee: Telesco Brophey Limited, Montreal,

Canada [22] Filed: June 4, 1973 [21] Appl. No: 366,274

[52] US. Cl. 135/22 [51] Int. Cl A45b 25/16 [58] Field of Search 1.35/20, 22-24, 135/25, 26

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 706,352 8/1902 Smith 1.35/24 x 1,091,895 3/1914 Schaaf 135/24 X 3,016,910 l/1962 Rosenkaimer 135/22 3,672,381 6/1972 Kida et a1. .1 135/22 Primary Examiner-J. Karl Bell Attorney, Agent, or FirmRobert E. Mitchell; Alan Swabey [57] ABSTRACT An automatic umbrella which, includes a releasable self-opening means, such as a compression spring provided between a pair of runners sliding on the stick. wherein the spring is compressed when the runners are in a closed position and locked by a resilientlypivoted locking pawl inside the stick protruding radially outwardly of the stick to engage a runner and a push-button having an enlarged head for releasing the locking pawl from the runner to allow the umbrella to open. A sliding ring is provided which includes a safety lock for the push-button with the large head whereby when the ring is in a predetermined position. the head cannot be depressed to release the runners. The ring can be moved axially to disengage the safety look from the pushbutton head.

6 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures US Patent Sept. 23,1975 Sheet 1 of3 3,906,970

US Patent Sept. 23,1975

Sheet 2 0f 3 US Patent Sept. 23,1975 Sheet 3 of3 3,906,970

SELF-OPEN ING UMBRELLA BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION l. Field of Invention The present invention relates to umbrellas and more particularly to umbrellas of the self-opening type.

2. Description of Prior Art In self-opening umbrellas, releasable locking means must be provided so as to retain the components loaded in a closed position. For instance, a typical self-opening umbrella includes a pair of runners slidable on the stick and a compression spring between the runners which is compressed and loaded when the runners are adjacent one another when the umbrella is in a closed position. In this case, the runners are near the handle of the telescoped stick. Normally, in such umbrellas, a locking pawl within the umbrella stick is provided with a locking head protruding radially from the stick and adapted to engage one of the runners. The locking pawl includes a push-button release closer to the handle which forces the resilient-pivotally-mounted locking pawl to disengage the runner when the push-button is depressed so as to allow the loaded umbrella components to move towards an open position.

One of the disadvantages of the construction described is that since the push-button release for the locking pawl is near the handle, it can be easily accidentally depressed causing the umbrella to open accidentally. Since only a small amount of relative movement is provided between the runners, a very strong spring must be used between the runners. If the compo nents are accidentally unlocked, this relatively strong spring forcing the components to open could cause injury when it forces the dome ribs, for instance, to move rapidly outwardly.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION It is an aim of the present invention to provide an automatic, self-opening umbrella wherein a safety lock is provided for preventing the locking pawl push-button from .being depressed accidentally and forcing the user toj'positively unlock the release push-button before de pressing it in order to open the umbrella.

It is also an aim of the present invention to further provide means for holding the tips of the umbrella in a stored position when the umbrella is closed.

A construction in accordance with the present invention includes an umbrella having a stick, a handle at one end of the stick, a crown at the other end of the stick, at least one runner slidable on the stick, dome ribs hinged to the crown and stretcher means hinged to the runner and the dome ribs for supporting the dome ribs when the umbrella is in an open position. There is provided energy-storing means for loading the components of the umbrella when the umbrella is closed and the runner is adjacent the handle, and a locking pawl is pivotally mounted in the hollow stick with a locking head protruding radially from the stick and engaging a seat provided in the runner. Releasable push-button means is associated to the pivoted locking pawl, whereby when the push-button means is depressed, the locking pawl will pivot inwardly of the stick and disengage the runner.

The improved feature includes a sliding member adapted for limited axial movement whereby in one position, it engages and locks the push-button release, and

in a second position, it is disengaged from the pushbutton allowing it to be depressed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Having thus generally described the nature of the invention, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, showing by way of illustration, a preferred embodiment thereof, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a selfopening umbrella in a closed position, showing a detail thereof, partly in cross section;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view similar to FIG. 1, but showing the components of the umbrella in a different operable position;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view of a detail of the components shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a detail similar to FIG. 3, but of the components shown in FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, an umbrella of the self-opening type is shown fragmentarily and includes a stick 1 having a handle 2 and dome ribs 3. The dome ribs 3 are pivoted to a crown (not shown) at the other end of the stick I. A runner 4 is provided on the stick and is adapted to slide thereon. Stretcher members 5 are hinged at one end to a flange 6 on the runner 4 and at the other, they are hinged to the dome ribs 3. A runner 7, which also slides on the stick, is provided with strut members 9 hinged to the flange 8 of the runner 7 and to the stretcher members 5 at the location indicated by the numeral 10 in the drawings, particularly in FIG. 1. Finally, a compression spring K is provided between the runners 4 and 7. The compression spring K is fully compressed when the umbrella is in a position as shown in FIG. I, and tends to separate the runners thereby forcing the umbrella to open as shown in FIG. 2.

Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, a bladetype pawl 19 is shown pivoted within the hollow stick 1 about a pivot shaft 27. An opening 18 is defined in the wall of the stick 1 to allow the enlarged locking head 13, having a locking lip 17, to protrude from the stick and engage the shoulder 12 of the runner 7, as shown. The pawl 19 includes a stem 16 between the locking head 13 and the shaft 27. At the other end of the stem 16 is an abutment head 20 which is adapted to protrude through an aperture 21 in the stick 1.

An annular member 24 is provided immediately adjacent the handle 2 and is held there by the transverse pin 23. The member 24 includes a recess 22 which coincides with the opening 21 in the stick. A recess 22 communicates with the outer wall 24 of the member 24 by means ofa bore 22'. A pushbutton 14, includes an enlarged head 35 adapted to be engaged by an operators thumb and an abutment 25 at the other end of a shank l5 sliding in the bore 22. The abutment 25, of course, engages the abutment head 2*!) of the pawl 16.

There is a U-shaped spring blade 28 provided in the hollow stick 1 which engages the pawl 19 and resiliently holds the locking head 13 protruding outwardly of the stick and the abutting head 20 penetrating the recess 22 so that the pushbutton 14 is fully extended as shown in FIG. 3.

A sliding member 29 is provided having an annular skirt 29" extending downwardly therefrom, and an annular recess 30 in the'top portion thereof for receiving the ends 3 of the dome ribs. The member 29 is adapted to slideon the stick I. An axially-extending slot 36 is provided in the skirt 29" and receives the shank l5 of the'push-button 14..lust below the slot 36, an enlargement of the skirt is provided which has a thickness substantially the same as the distance between the outer surface of the member 24 and the undersurfacc of the shoulder of the head 35. The enlarged member 34 has a flat top surface 34 and a beveled surface 34";

Finally, the member 24 includes a recess for receiving a compression spring 31. The end 33 of the spring 31 engages against the underside of the member 29 for normally holding the member 29 in a position whereby the enlarged portion 34 is immediately below the shoulder of the head 35 of the push-button 14 as shown in FIG. 3. When the member 29 is slid axially in the opposite direction, it is limited by the metal ring 37 on the shoulder of the handle 2.

In operation, when the umbrella is in a closed position with the runner engaged by the locking head 13 of the pawl 16,,the push-button I4 is in its fully extended position as shown in FIG. 3, and the enlarged portion 34 of the skirt 29" of the member 29 locks the head 35 preventing it from accidentally being depressed. If it is required -to open the automatic umbrella, the member 29must be manually slid downwardly against the ring 37 so that the enlarged portion 34 clears the space between the head 35 and the surface 24' of the member 24. Then the push-button 14 can be depressed, forcing the pawl to pivot, thereby disengaging the locking head 13 from the shoulder 12 of the runner 7, whereby the spring K will force the runners apart causing the umbrella to open in the known manner.

I I claim:

l. A self-opening. umbrella comprising a stick, a handle atone end of the stick, a crown at the other end of the stick, at least one runner slidable on the stick, dome ribs hinged to the crown, and stretcher members hinged to the runner and to the dome ribs respectively for supporting the dome ribs when the umbrella is in an open position; energy-storing means for loading the components'ofthe umbrella to force the unbrclla components to move to an umbrella open position when the umbrella is closed and the runner is adjacent the handle; a locking pawl pivotally mounted in the hollow stick with a locking head protruding radially from the stick and adapted to engage a seat provided in the runner; releasable push-button means associated with the locking pawl, whereby when the push-button means is depressed laterally, it will force the locking pawl to pivot inwardly of the stick and disengagethe runner, a sliding member adapted for limited axial movement whereby in one position, it engages and locks the pushbutton means and in a second position, it is disengaged from the push-button means allowing the push-button means to be depressed. the sliding member comprising an annular element having a built-up portion adapted to engage an enlarged head of the push-button when the ring is in a push-button locking position and preventing the push-button from being depressed.

2. A self-opening umbrella as defined in claim 1 wherein there are two runners provided on the umbrella stick and strut means interconnects the additional runner to the stretcher means and a compression spring is provided between the runners normally urging the runners apart, the compression spring being the energy-storing means. I

3. A self-opening umbrella as defined in claim 1 wherein the sliding member includes an annular portion having a central opening conforming to the outer area of the stick and a peripheral downwardlydepending skirt, an axially-extending slot in the skirt through which the push-button shank extends and a built-up portion below the slot on the skirt adapted to engage under the shoulder of the enlarged head of the push-button when the push-button is extended laterally.

4. A self-opening umbrella as defined in claim 3 wherein an annular member is provided on the stick immediatelyadjacent the' handle and includes a radial bore through which the push-button slides and is supported, and compression spring means are provided between the annular member and the annular portion of the sliding member to urge the sliding member in a position where the built-up portion on the skirt normally engages below the shoulder of the enlarged head of the push-button.

5. The self-opening umbrella as claimed in claim I in which said annular element includes an upwardlyopcning recess portion for removably receiving tips of the dome ribs when the umbrella is collapsed.

6. The self-opening umbrella as claimed in claim 5 including compression spring means between the annular element and sliding member to. normally urge the sliding member toward a position to engage the dome rib tips.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,906,970 Dated September 23, 1975 It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

[73] Assignee:

Part interest to Telesco Brophey Limited, Montreal, Canada Signed and fieaicd this first Day Of June1976 [SEAL] A tres r.-

RUTH C. MASON C. MARSHALL DANN Arresting Officer (ummissiuner uj'Parenu and Trademarks 

1. A self-opening umbrella comprising a stick, a handle at one end of the stick, a crown at the other end of the stick, at least one runner slidable on the stick, dome ribs hinged to the crown, and stretcher members hinged to the runner and to the dome ribs respectively for supporting the dome ribs when the umbrella is in an open position; energy-storing means for loading the components of the umbrella to force the unbrella components to move to an umbrella open position when the umbrella is closed and the runner is adjacent the handle; a locking pawl pivotally mounted in the hollow stick with a locking head protruding radially from the stick and adapted to engage a seat provided in the runner; releasable push-button means associated with the locking pawl, whereby when the push-button means is depressed laterally, it will force the locking pawl to pivot inwardly of the stick and disengage the runner, a sliding member adapted for limited axial movement whereby in one position, it engages and locks the pushbutton means and in a second position, it is disengaged from the push-button means allowing the push-button means to be depressed, the sliding member comprising an annular element having a builtup portion adapted to engage an enlarged head of the push-button when the ring is in a push-button locking position and preventing the push-button from being depressed.
 2. A self-opening umbrella as defined in claim 1 wherein there are two runners provided on the umbrella stick and strut means interconnects the additional runner to the stretcher means and a compression spring is provided between the runners normally urging the runners apart, the compression spring being the energy-storing means.
 3. A self-opening umbrella as defined in claim 1 wherein the sliding member includes an annular portion having a central opening conforming to the outer area of the stick and a peripheral downwardly-depending skirt, an axially-extending slot in the skirt through which the push-button shank extends and a built-up portion below the slot on the skirt adapted to engage under the shoulder of the enlarged head of the push-button when the push-button is extended laterally.
 4. A self-opening umbrella as defined in claim 3 wherein an annular member is provided on the stick immediately adjacent the handle and includes a radial Bore through which the push-button slides and is supported, and compression spring means are provided between the annular member and the annular portion of the sliding member to urge the sliding member in a position where the built-up portion on the skirt normally engages below the shoulder of the enlarged head of the push-button.
 5. The self-opening umbrella as claimed in claim 1 in which said annular element includes an upwardly-opening recess portion for removably receiving tips of the dome ribs when the umbrella is collapsed.
 6. The self-opening umbrella as claimed in claim 5 including compression spring means between the annular element and sliding member to normally urge the sliding member toward a position to engage the dome rib tips. 